‘Dancing With The Stars’ Update: Alexa PenaVega Apparently Not Returning After ‘DWTS’ Semi-Finals Shake-Up

There has been a lot of chatter the past couple of days regarding Dancing with the Stars and the possibility that recently-eliminated contestant Alex PenaVega might get a chance to return. Viewers watched as Alexa and Mark Ballas were eliminated during Monday’s Week 9 show, but then a surprise contestant departure on Wednesday seemingly shook things up a bit. What’s the latest on this DWTS situation?

As was previously reported by the Inquisitr, the Dancing with the Stars producers were considering bringing Alexa PenaVega and Mark Ballas back to dance in Week 10 after the shake-up with a Season 21 semi-finalist having to withdraw for medical reasons. Many fans were rooting for Alexa and Mark’s return, but it clearly would have been complicated.

While the show has not yet officially revealed its decision, there are signs that seem to confirm that Alexa and Mark are likely done after all. Alexa has tweeted a bit since Monday’s elimination, and these certainly seem to point to her not returning for Week 10 of DWTS. In one tweet, Alexa mentions how she’s not dancing this week and has to hit the gym.

A tweet that PenaVega posted late Wednesday most certainly seemed to give the answer that a decision had been made. Alexa thanked fans for all of the love and support and said that while she wished the journey could continue, she believes that everything happens for a reason.

In addition, Alexa’s husband, Carlos PenaVega, and his partner, Witney Carson, appeared on Good Day LA on Thursday morning. Carlos and Witney talked about Alexa’s elimination and the hosts asked about the possibly of “Team Baega” heading back to the dance floor. Though both Witney and Carlos hesitated at the question, they shared enough to seemingly confirm it’s not happening.

Carlos and Witney said that it looks like Alexa and Mark aren’t returning. Not only that, but the remaining four couples apparently will be tasked with learning a third dance for Monday’s semi-finals. That is a huge challenge at this point of the season, and DWTS fans will be anxious to hear what that third dance is supposed to be.

During Monday night’s semi-finals, the four couples will be doing a ballroom dance along with a trio dance, and now possibly some kind of third dance. Dancing with the Stars spoilers have teased that Karina Smirnoff will join Witney and Carlos, and Emma Slater is joining Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold.

Peta Murgatroyd is dancing with Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess. However, the trio pro for Derek Hough and Bindi Irwin hasn’t been revealed yet. Many suspect Mark Ballas will get the nod on that front, but it could certainly be Sasha Farber or someone else as well.

Should the Dancing with the Stars producers have found a way to bring Alexa and Mark back for the semi-finals? In a situation like this, there was no easy way to do that. There seemed no fair way to bring Team Baega back and account for the issue that fans couldn’t have voted for them in full after Monday’s dances.

The show could have tossed out the fan votes to level the playing field and rely on just the judge’s scores, perhaps combining them with the votes and scores in Week 10 going into the finals. However, fans of the other teams surely would have been in an uproar over that, as it would have discounted their voting efforts.

What happens then with only four teams in the semi-finals instead of five teams as planned? Details on that front have not yet been revealed, so DWTS fans will have to wait and see what comes next. The show may choose to eliminate nobody, taking four teams into the finale as planned. Or, they could eliminate one team and have a three-pair finale, a scenario that was more common during earlier seasons.

Do you think Dancing with the Stars producers made the right call if indeed they’ve decided for certain that Alexa PenaVega and Mark Ballas will remain eliminated?

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[Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images]